Combined cigarette case and lighter



July 17, 1934. AXELSSQN 1,966,914

COI IB INED CIGARETTE CASE AND LIGHTER Filed April 17, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 j NVENTOR bBY MY M35 flTTOR/IEYJ Patented July 17, 1934 1,966,914 POMIBINED CIGARETTE CASE AND' LIGHTER Nils R. Axelsson, Syracuse, N. Y., asslgnor of onehall' to Abram P. Madden, Syracuse, N. Y.

Application April 17, 1933, Serial No. 666,525

11 Claim.

This invention relates to a combined cigarette case and lighter adapted to be carried in the pocket of an ordinary garment or held in the hand of the user in such manner that it may be conveniently manipulated for effecting the release and lighting of the cigarettes, one at a time, by one and the same hand.

The main object is to provide a relatively small compact device of this character capable of holding the entire number of, in this instance twenty (20), cigarettes contained in an ordinary package as commonly retailed to the purchaser without in any way interfering with free operation of the moving parts. One of the specific objects is to store cigarettes within the case in such manner that, by proper manipulation of the case to the desired angle, the cigarettes may be automatically positioned, one at a time, into alinement with a suitable discharge opening ready for partial ejection and lighting.

Another object is to provide means whereby the partial ejection and lighting of the cigarette and snufiing of the flame may be accomplished in one and the same operation.

A further object is to combine the working parts of the device in a unitary article of manufacture comprising a supplemental frame which is secured by releasable means to the interior of the outer case to form therewith a storage and guide chamber of the required capacity and also to form a support for the individual cigarettes. a fuel reservoir, the lighting device, the ejector, the snuffer and mechanism for operating the movable parts so that the entire unit may be removed or replaced when desired for inspection or repairs.

Another object is to provide simple means whereby the individual cigarette alined with the outlet may be partially ejected through said outlet and simultaneously lighted as the operating member is moved in one direction and the snuffer operated when said member is returned.

Other objects and uses will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings:-

Figure l is a perspective view of a combined cigarette case and lighter, the dotted lines indicating an open position of the lid.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same device taken on line 2-2, Figure 1, except that it is shown in an upright position.

Figure, 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the same device with the lid removed to show the (Cl. 206-41A) interior mechanism and storage chamber for the cigarettes.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-4, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged and view of the upper portion of the same device showing more particularly the relative positions of the outlet for the cigarette and the operating members for the ejector and lighter.

Figure 6 is an enlarged side elevation of the upper end of the lid showing the end lug for. interlocking engagement with the adjacent portion of the outer case.

Figure '7 is a further enlarged vertical sectional view through a portion of the outer case showing in elevation the supporting ledge for the individual cigarette together with the ejecting mechanism, the lighting mechanism, and the snuffer and the operating means therefor, in their normal positions.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 in which the moving parts are shown in their operative position for releasing the snuffer, partially ejecting the cigarette, and lighting the same.

Figure 9 is a transverse vertical sectional, view so through the upper portion of the case taken on line 9-9, Figure 'I.

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view of the snuffer and its supporting means taken on line 10-10, Figure '1.

Figure 11. is a detail sectional view taken .on line 11--11, Figure 8, showing more particularly the means for producing the necessary spark for igniting the inflammable fuel for lighting the cigarette.

As illustrated, this device comprises an outer case unit 1 and an inner frame or supplemental case unit 2 carrying the various mechanisms and movable parts used in ejecting and lighting the cigarette and in snufiing the flame produced by the lighting, means, hereina ter more fully described.

The outer case 1 preferably consists of a substantially fiat rectangular shell of non-corrodible sheet metal or equivalent material elongated in one direction and having one of its narrower sides provided with a movable lid 3 and its opposite side provided with an outlet opening 4 for the individual cigarette and a guide opening 5 for receiving and guiding a reciprocatory operating member or plunger 6, which latter serves as a single operating means for the ejector, lighter, and snufier, presently described.

The lid 3 and opening which is normally closed thereby extends from one end of the case the 110 major portion of the length thereof and has its other-end provided with an inwardly offset extension lug 7 adapted to interlock with the adjacent portion of the correspondingside of the case to hold that portion of the lid against outward displacement, said extension lug being disposed substantiallymidway between the opposite edges of the lid and adapted to serve as a screw driver for tightening and releasing various screws used in the construction of the inner frame 2 in a manner and for a purpose hereinafter described.

The remaining portions of the marginal edges of the lid are offset inwardly to form opposite lengthwise flanges 3 having straight inner edges adapted to abut against adjacent edges of the flat sides as 1' of the case 1 to assist in holding the lid against undue inward displacement and also for reinforcing purposes, as shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 2.

The lower end edge of the lid 3 is also offset inwardly and upwardly to form a locking flange 8 adapted to be engaged by the adjacent end of a flat spring keeper 9 having its other end secured to the inner face of the bottom wall of the case 1, as shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 3, whereby the lid will be yieldingly held in its closed position.

The outlet opening 4 for the individual cigarettes is preferably located near one end of the relatively narrow side wall of the case 1 opposite the lid 3 and preferably near one of the flat sides of the case and is of sufficient size to permit the individual cigarettes to be readily projected therethrough by the ejecting mechanism presently described.

As previously stated, the lid 3 extends from one end, as for example the lower end, of the case 1, Figure 2, the major portion of the length or height of the case but terminates in a plane below that of the opening 4 so as to form a flange 7' directly opposite said opening to prevent undue endwise displacement of the individual cigarettes when the latter are alined with the opening, in a manner hereinafter described.

The top wall of the case 2 directly opposite the lighting device is provided with one or more ventilating openings 10 therethrough to supply air to the combustible material and also to ventilate the interior of the case from the products of combustion.

The inner frame or supplemental case 2 may also be made of non-corrodible or other suitable material and is approximately rectangular and of considerably smaller external dimensions than the interior dimensions of the outer case within which it is adapted to be secured in a manner presently described.

That is, the frame 2 is secured to the inner face of one of the flat sides of the case 1 just below the outlet opening 4 to extend downwardly therefrom approximately half the vertical height of the interior of the outer case so as to form with said outer case a storage chamber 11 between its lower end and bottom of the outer case, the inner face of the frame 2 being also arranged in parallel spaced relation to the opposite side wall of the case 1 to form a lengthwise guide chamber 12.

A baflle plate 13 is secured to the inner face of the opposite flat side of the case 1 to project inwardly therefrom in a plane below the lower end of the frame 2 a distance slightly greater than the diameter of a single cigarette to form a connecting passage 14 between the chambers 11 and 12 and thereby to enable the cigarettes to pass from said storage chamber to the guide chamber by proper tilting manipulation of the case 1.

The lower end face 15 of the frame 2 and the upper face of the baiile plate 13 are disposed in substantially parallel planes at an angle to the longitudinal center of the case 1 to deflect the cigarettes from the chamber 11 through the passage 14 and into the guide chamber 12, as shown more clearly in Figure 3, said frame having a top wall or ledge 16 for temporarily supporting an individual cigarette in alinement with the opening, see Figures 2, 7, 8 and 9.

The frame 2 may be secured in operative position within the outer case 1 by any suitable releasable means and for this purpose one of the narrower sides of the outer case 1 is provided with an inwardly projecting pin 17 adapted to enter a socket 18 in the adjacent side of the frame 2, the opposite side of the frame being secured by a screw 19 to a lug 20 on the case 1, as shown more clearly in Figures 2, 3, 7 and 8.

This frame 2 extends almost the entire distance between the opposite narrower sides of the casing 1 with one end abutting against one of the narrower sides and the other end in slightly spaced relation to the corresponding side, it being understood that the distance between the narrower sides of the outer casing is only slightly greater than the length of the cigarettes so as to allow the latter to pass freely from the storage chamber 11 through the branch passage 14 and into the guide chamber 12 when the case is properly manipulated to different angles in a manner hereinafter described, under which conditions the cigarette nearest the outlet 4 will be disposed upon the ledge 16 in alinement with said p ning.

That is, when the frame 2 is properly secured in operative position within the case 1, the ledge 16 will be disposed in approximately the same plane as the bottom of the opening 4, the inner side of the ledge being provided with an outwardly projecting shoulder 16 to temporarily hold the cigarette on the ledge in alinement with the opening 4 against accidental inward displacement therefrom.

The capacity of the chambers 11 and 12 is suflicient to hold the entire number of, in this instance twenty, cigarettes of an ordinary package as commonly retailed so that when a package of cigarettes is purchased they may be removed from such package and placed endwise within the chambers 11 and 12 and stacked one upon the other therein when the lid 3 is removed, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

As the individual cigarettes are disposed upon the ledge 16 through proper tilting manipulation of the case 1, they may be ejected or projected through the discharge opening 4 by suitable ejecting mechanism and for this purpose the inner frame or supplemental casing 2 is provided with spaced shoulders 19' and 20' in alinement with the guide opening 5 and provided respectively with guide openings for receiving the inner end of the plunger 6 which extends through the opening 5 some distance into the interior of the casing 1 and frame 2 .parallel with the ledge 16 and has its outer end provided with a removable knob or handle 6' to facilitate assembling of the frame 2 with the plunger thereon within the outer casing 1.

A coil spring 21 surrounds the portion of the plunger 6 between the shoulders 19' and 20' and ha on end bearing upon a pin 22 on the plunger adjacent the shoulder 19' and its other end bearing against the shoulder 20' whereby the inward movement of the plunger through the medium of its handle 6' will cause the pin 22 on the plunger to compress the spring 2-1.

The shoulders 19' and 20' are formed upon one end of a metal plate 23 which is riveted or otherwise secured to the frame 2 to form a part thereof, as shown more. clearly in Figures 4, 7 and 8.

An ejector lever 24 of the bell crank type is pivoted at 25 to the inner end of the plate 23 and has a relatively short arm 26 disposed in the path of movement of the inner end of the plunger 6 and its other longer arm 26' extended across the corresponding end of the outermost cigarette resting upon the ledge 16 so that when the plunger is moved inwardly against the action of the Spring 21 the ejector arm 26' will be operated to force the outermost cigarette a predetermined distance through the opening 4.

The inner end of the frame 2 is provided with a fuel reservoir 27 for receiving anabsorbent material 27' and a flexible wick tube 28, the chamber 27 being extended approximately the full width of the interior of the case 1 between the narrower sides thereof.

The absorbent material 27 is adapted to be saturated with an inflammable liquid and serves to prevent undue agitation of the fuel as the case is manipulated to different angles.

The tube 28 containing the wick as 28' extends some distance within the chamber 27 and has one end connected to a relatively rigid delivery tube 29 which is secured to the top wall 30 of the chamber 27 to extend upwardly and laterally therefrom in a direction away from the outlet opening 4 so that its open end will be disposed between the top wall 30 and ledge 16 and in substantially the same transverse plane as the inner edge of said ledge or rather near the limit of the inward stroke of the free end of the ejector arm 24 when the latter is moved to its ejecting position.

The wick 28' extends entirely through the tube 29 slightly beyond the open end thereof so that when its free end is ignited in a manner presently described, the flame produced by such ignition will be directed to the inner end of the cigarette when the latter is projected forwardly through the opening 4 by the action of the ejector arm 26.

The guide tube 29 for the wick 28 is arranged closely adjacent the inner side wall of the case 2, as shown more clearily in Figure 9, or directly under the inner end of the ledge 16 which terminates closely adjacent the open end of said guide tube to allow the flame from the free end of the wick to pass directly to the inner end of the cigarette when the latter is projected through the opening 4 by the ejector arm 26'.

Suitable means 'is provided for preventin; excessive outward movement of the ejected cigarette through the opening 4 and for this purpose a relatively light spring arm 31 is secured at its inner end to the underside of the ledge 16 to extend forwardly therefrom toward the opening 4 and has its outer end provided with an offset portion 31 normally lying in the path of the adjacent end of the cigarette a whereby the projection of the cigarette toward the opening will engage the offset portion 31 thereby depressing the end of the spring 31 against its own tension and permitting the cigarette to ride along the fr'ee end of the projection with sufficient friction therewith to retard the forward movement of the cigarette through the opening except as it is impelled forwardly by the action of the ejector arm 26' under which conditions the inner end of the cigarette will be brought to a position directly over the free end of the wick to be lighted by the ignition of the fuel-in the wick.

Igniting device The inner end of the plunger 6 is provided with a head 6" in sliding engagement with the upper surface of the top wall of the chamber 27, as shown more clearly in Figures '7 and 8.

A-relatively short shaft 32 is journaled in th opposite side walls of the frame 2 for receiving and supporting an abrasive wheel or disk 33 and a ratchet wheel 34, both of which are secured to the shaft to rotate therewith, the wheel or disk 33 being provided with peripheral teeth 33', as shown more clearly in Figures 7, 8, 9 and 11.

A bell crank lever 35 is loosely journaled upon the shaft 32 closely adjacent the inner face of the ratchet wheel 34 and has one of its arms provided with a pin 36 engaged in a slot 37 in the upper edge of the plunger 6 and its other arm provided with a pivoted pawl 38 which is arranged to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 34, see Figures 7, 8 and 9, the pawl 38 being yieldingly held against the teeth of the ratchet wheel by means of a light spring 38'.

A flint-supporting tube 39 is rigidly secured in any suitable manner to the frame 2 to extend radially from the periphery of the toothed wheel 33 in the direction of inward movement of the plunger 6 for receiving a flint or equivalent block 40 which is loosely mounted in said tube for free axial movement against the action of a coil spring 41 having one end bearing against the flint block 40 and its other end engaged by an adjusting screw 42 which, in turn, is engaged in the outer threaded end of the tube 39 for tension- .ing the spring 41 and thereby yieldingly holding the inner end of the flint block in engagement with the teeth of the wheel 33.

A snuffer-supporting arm 43 is riveted or otherwise secured to the rear end of the plunger 6 to extend upwardly therefrom and has its upper end provided with a snufilng cap 44 in alinement with the open end of the wick guide 29, as shown more clearly in Figures 2, '7, 8, 9 and 10.

When the plunger 6 is in its normal inoperative position, as shown in Figure 7, the snuffer cap 44 will be in position to close the open end of the wick guide 29 and thereby to quench any fire that may exist on the adjacent end of the wick. On the other hand, when the plunger 6 is moved inwardly by hand to operate the ejector 24 for projecting the cigarette a on the ledge 16 forwardly into the outlet opening 4, the lower end of the lever 35 will be rocked inwardly in the direction of movement of the plunger, thereing the adjacent end of the wick.

This rotation of the toothed wheel or disk 33 in the manner just described causes its teeth to ride against the inner face of the flat block '40 to create several sparks for igniting the exposed end of the fuel wick 28' thereby producing a flame for lighting the inner end of the outwardly projecting cigarette a.

This flame may continue as long as the plunger 6 is held inwardly by hand but as soon as the inward pressure upon the plunger is released it is returned to its normal starting position, thereby returning the snuilfer cap 44 to its closed position and at the same time returning the lever and its pawl 38 to their normal positions and allowing the ejector lever to be returned to its normal position shown in Figure 7 through the medium of a retracting spring 24', Figures 7 and 8.

It may be necessary from time to time to resaturate the absorbent material 27 within the chamber 27 with a suitable inflammable liquid, and for this purpose the inner end wall of the chamber 27 is provided with a flller opening normally closed by a screw plug which, of course, will be removed to allow the liquid fuel to be ejected into the chamber 27.

Operation Assuming that the chambers 11 and 12 have been substantially filled with the cigarettes of an ordinary retail package and that the lid 3 is closed to enable the case to be carried in the pocket or in the hand, as illustrated in Figure 1; then, if it is desired to obtain a cigarette, the case may be inverted or otherwise manipulated by hand to cause the cigarette nearest the outlet opening to gravitate onto the ledge 16 in alinement with said opening whereupon the plunger 8 may be forced inwardly by hand to operate the ejector lever 24 for projecting the outer end 01 the cigarette through the opening 4 or from the position shown in Figures 2 and '7 to the position shown in Figure 8.

This inward movement of the plunger 6 will cause the snufilng cap 44 to be withdrawn inwardly from the open end 01 the wick guide 29 and at the same time the toothed wheel 33 will be rotated against the flint block 40 to produce the necessary sparks ior igniting the fuel-exposed end of the wick to produce the necessary flame for igniting the inner end of the cigarette a resting upon the ledge 16, it being understood that the plunger will be held in its innermost position until the cigarette is ignited.

During this operation the cigarette will be projected through the opening 4 a sufllcient distance to allow the smoker to apply the lips thereto for producing the necessary draft to maintain the ignition of the inner end of the cigarette after which the cigarette may be withdrawn and smoked in the usual manner, it being understood that as soon as the cigarette is ignited the plunger is allowed to return to its normal position thereby causing the return of the lever 35, snuifer 44, and ejector lever 24 to their normal positions, the snufler serving to extinguish the lighted end of the wick.

Although the construction and operation are particularly simple, practical and efllcient, it is evident that various changes may be made in the detail construction without departing from the spirit of. the invention. a

What I claim is:

1. A cigarette case adapted to be held in the hand and provided with a storage chamber for a multiplicity of cigarettes and an outlet for a single cigarette at one end of the storage chamber, means whereby tilting manipulation of the case will cause the nearest cigarette to be alined with the outlet, a detent for holding the cigarette against accidental displacement through said outlet and adapted to be displaced by the cigarette when the latter is ejected, and means operable at will for ejecting the alined cigarette through the outlet.

2. A combined cigarette holder and lighter comprising an outer case having an outlet for individual cigarettes, a supplemental case within the outer case, releasable means for holding the inner case in fixed relation to the outer case, said inner case having means for supporting an individual cigarette in alinement with said outlet, means carried by the inner case and operable at will for projecting the alined cigarette into the outlet, and means on the inner case actuated by the second-named means for lighting the inner end of the alined cigarette.

3. A cigarette holder comprising a housing having a lower storage chamber, an intermediate guide chamber and an upper delivery chamber, the latter having an outlet in one end adapted to permit the endwise passage of a single cigarette therethrough at a time, said chambers being of unequal capacities and communicating with each other through restricted passages to enable the cigarettes to pass sequentially from one to the other of said chambers as the housing is manipulated to predetermined positions, means for supporting one of the cigarettes in alinement with the outlet, and means operable at will for projecting the alined cigarette through said outlet.

4. A cigarette holder as in claim 3 in which the guide chamber is of less width than'twice the diameter of any one cigarette and 01 sufiicient height to receive a multiplicity of cigarettes diametrically one upon the other.

5. A cigarette holder as in claim 3 in which the guide chamber is offset to one side of the longitudinal center of the storage chamber.

6. A cigarette holder as in claim 3 in which means is provided for deflecting the cigarettes one at a time from the storage chamber to the guide chamber when the housing is properly manipulated.

7. A cigarette holder as in claim 3 in which the housing is provided with a baille plate projecting inwardly from one side thereof directly under the lower end of the guide chamber for supporting the lowermost cigarette therein.

8. A cigarette holder as in claim 3 in which the opposite side walls of the housing are provided with inwardly projecting members arranged in spaced relation to form the lower and upper walls of the connecting passage between the storage chamber and guide chamber for directing the passage of the individual cigarettes from one to the other of said chambers.

9. A cigarette holder comprising a normally upright housing having an outlet opening in one end near the top, a supplemental casing projecting inwardly from one of the side walls of the housing in a plane below the outlet and in spaced relation to the opposite wall to form an intervening guide chamber for the cigarettes, said casing having its lower end terminating some distance above the bottom of the housing to form the top wall of an underlying storage chamber, and means carried by the casing and operable at will for lighting the cigarette.

10. A combined cigarette holder and lighter comprising a normally upright housing having a delivery chamber near the top and a relatively large storage chamber extending upwardly from the bottom, said housing having a relatively narrow guide chamber leading from the storage chamber to the delivery chamber, the latter having a discharge opening for a single cigarette in one end, a supplemental casing within the housing between the storage chamber and delivery chamber and at one side of the guide chamber, said housing being adapted to be manipulated from its normal upright position to cause one of the cigarettes to be alined with the outlet,- and means mounted on the casing and operable at will tor lighting the cigarette.

11. In a combined cigarette holder and lighter, a housing having an outlet opening for the individual cigarettes, means for supporting a cigarette in alinement with the opening, a selfretracted hand-operated plunger, a relatively stationary wick guide having its terminal end extending in the direction of movement of the plunger from its retracted position, a. snufier carried by the plunger and movable therewith into and out of engagement with the terminal end of the wick guide, spark-producing means actuated by the plunger for igniting the wick when theplunger with the snuifer thereon is operated against its retracting means, said snufier and terminal end of the wick guide being located between the igniting means and the cigarette support.

NIIS R. SON. 

